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Couple who claimed self-defense charged with murder

A couple who claimed they stabbed a man to death after he broke into their Eastside apartment were arrested today on felony murder charges.

James and Briana Hood were arrested at their home this afternoon, each on a charge of felony murder, in what police said was a drug deal gone bad.

The Hoods initially claimed they killed 26-year-old Christopher Coon in self-defense after he forced his way into their home on Vintage Court to steal drugs early Feb. 1.

But after re-interviewing the couple and analyzing evidence from the crime scene, investigators found out that the Hoods knew Coon was coming to their home to buy drugs and they let the man in when he arrived, police said.

An argument broke out over the price of the pills Coon wanted to buy, and he snatched the pills from James Hood and began to leave, police said.

That’s when Briana Hood stabbed Coon in the back, police said. When Coon fought back, James Hood joined the fight and stabbed the man as well, police said.

After Coon collapsed to the floor, the Hoods rifled his pockets and found money, which they stole, and brass knuckles that they placed next to Coon’s body thinking the weapon would support a self-defense claim, police said.